No. 199. Report of Captain Edwin Evans, One hundred and ninth New York Infantry.*1

FIFTH EPOCH.

Sunday evening, June 12, left our position at Cold Harbor; marched all night, halting at sunrise for coffee. Resumed our march at 12 m. of the 13th, moving toward the James River. Crossed the Chickahominy at 6.30 a.m. June 14,and halted for the night within about a mile of the James River, where we remained until the evening of June 15, when we struck tents, took up our line of march, crossed the James at midnight, continuing on our march toward Petersburg, arriving near the enemy at 6 p.m. on the 16th, and went into position at once. Maneuvered most of the night and participated in the engagement of the 17th, losing quite heavily in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Moved across the railroad and lay upon the picket-line all night, where we

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*For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI. Part I, p.961.

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remained until the 19th; then came to the rear in a wood; staid here until 10 p.m. of the 20th; moved off to the right and took our position in the front lint of works and remained here until the morning of the 23d, at which time we moved to the left and rear, near an old brick house at the railroad. Staid here until the 27th, when the regiment went on picket, where it remained with little intermission performing fatigue and picket duty until the morning of July 30, at which time we were relieved by a portion of the Eighteenth Army Corps and formed a part of the assaulting column upon the enemy’s works at the point where the mine was sprung. Entered the crater and most of the command remained in it until about 1 p.m., when we evacuated. Reformed the regiment in the ravine just in rear of our line of works and moved up in the works. On picket again until 11 p.m., at which time we were relieved and went to the rear. Thus ended a hard day’s work.

EDWIN EVANS,

Captain, 109th New York Volunteers, Commanding Regiment.

Source:

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 581-582↩